About Self and This Blog

Kanlaon is the name of a volcano found on the island of Negros, in the Philippines. Read more about the volcano here.

Why did self choose to name her blog after a volcano in the Philippines?

Self wanted to give it a name that had some personal connection to herself. Her Dear Departed Dad was born in the Philippine province of Negros Occidental. And that’s where the volcano is. (Self used to think the volcano was extinct but a careful reader of her blog told her it wasn’t, that it had in fact resulted in the deaths of two climbers, back in the late 90s.)

All right, but who, then, is the writer of this blog?

She’s a writer. Not well-known (for which, in a way, thank God. She has a life. Not an exciting one, but just a life).

She was born and raised in the Philippines. She has a twisted way of interpreting things. Every now and then, she’ll hear gossip about this or that relative, and she’ll say: “They may be crazy. But they’re MY KIND OF CRAZY.”

So, she went off to grad school in Stanford, CA and after graduating in East Asian Studies (concentration in Chinese), she successfully applied for a fellowship to the Creative Writing Program. Where she got to meet life-long friends Beth Coryell Alvarado of Tucson, Arizona, and Penny Jackson of New York City.

Why is this blog written in the third person?

The blog is an experiment in voice. She found the “I” rather too limiting. The Drama Queen side of her personality can only emerge when she thinks of herself as a character in some kind of narrative.

A few highlights of her life thus far:

Self has lately been writing horror and science fiction (!!!) Her first horror story was published in Philippine Genre Stories (“The Departure”). Her first honest-to-goodness science fiction story appeared in the New Orleans Review (“Thing:” It’s a story about a new, post-apocalyptic world, populated by strangelings, creatures that cannot be named. If self were writing this for the first time, she would use the word “dystopian,” which she’s heard a couple of hundred times since the publication of The Hunger Games). Wait. That’s not quite right. Her first out-and-out science fiction story can be found in her collection, Mayor of the Roses. It was a one-off: “Extinction.” Still one of her favorites.

Self had a short story included in the April 2009 (the “Blood, Sugar, Sex and Magic” Bacolod issue) of Rogue Magazine! (That on the cover is obviously NOT self — what were you thinking???)

The coolest magazine to ever have self’s name on the cover. Next coolest: The Threepenny Review. They put, on the front: MARIANNE VILLANUEVA GOES BACK TO MANILA (when they published “Sutil”)

Since it’s only fair to come clean about what she looks like, here is a recent picture, a selfie taken at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, Newbliss, County Monaghan, Ireland (May 2014):

Her first collection of short fiction, Ginseng and Other Tales from Manila (Calyx Press, 1991) was simultaneously published in Manila and was short-listed for the Philippines’ National Book Award.

She was a two-time recipient of a California Arts Council Artists Fellowship.

She was a Margaret Bridgman Scholar at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference.

Her story “Silence,” first published in The Threepenny Review, was short-listed for the 2000 O. Henry Literature Prize.

Her second book, Mayor of the Roses: Stories, was the inaugural publication of the Miami University Press Fiction Series. It could only have happened because of Brian Ascalon Roley. The photo they used for the cover shows nearly all her Bacolod relatives, gathered at the funeral of self’s grandfather, a former Mayor of Bacolod.

In 2007, Frederick Barthelme picked self’s story “The Hand” as the winner of the Juked Fiction Contest.

KulArts gave her play-in-progress, “In Which Menchit Attempts To Improve Her Fortune” a staged reading in the Bayanihan Cultural Center in October 2008 (Looove Alleluia Panis. Just love her)

In 2009, her third short story collection, The Lost Language, was published in the Philippines by Anvil Press.

She is still writing, even after xxxxx number of rejections. And she still thinks writing is the scariest and also the most exciting activity in the universe.

Born and raised in Manila, she currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and tries to spend at least a few months each year in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

kh said,

Since you have some problems with insomnia… would you be at all interested in blogging about your experiences trying to improve your sleep habits by following the advice in a (free) book? I have a Dutton author who’s reaching out to people who don’t have diagnosed serious sleep conditions, but who could use some help regulating their sleep habits and getting a better night’s sleep (which is about 99% of us). If you’re interested, drop me an email… thanks! p.s. i studied anthropology as an undergrad and am constantly wondering what i’d be doing now had i gone for a phD…

Yes, it’s true. In fact, would you like to initiate a “Feed Your Local Writer” day? I am sure you would get many many starving writers sign up. I wouldn’t mind giving a (free) reading, open to the public, in exchange for food. Hey, I think that would be fun! You’d feed both the mind AND the body.

I congratulate you Marianne for a nicely laid out blogsite, and I uoin all the voices there in in continually cheering you to greater heights.
Speaking of great heights, Nick Joaquin, my late uncle wil soon be the subject of an extended biographpy. Who will write it? I was officially designated by my family to do the honors and I am indeed honored.
In this connection therefore, you may have something to share vis a vis Nick and your writings. If so, do send them to me for possible inclusion in the coming book.
Krp Yuson, Butch Dalisay, Pete Lacaba to mention some of Nick’s close friends and fellow writers are poised to see my draft for they too will be part of the “writing team” that will make sure the book is of the quality deserving of Nick and his life works.
my best to your Mom, Nena, and hope that she continues to fashion the kind of classical piano playing that I have known to admire over the years.
Much love and prayers,
Tony

I’m honored that you checked out my blog, that you even consider me for contributing to your book about Nick Joaquin, who as you know was a real inspiration to me and to many many other Filipinos.

I don’t have any personal stories; aren’t those the kind you want? I would feel presumptuous to write something about him when I only knew him “from afar.” But I look forward to reading your book about him.

Phyl said,

Hey, I’m working on a short (hopefully humorous) article—nonfiction—to be entitled “Why I Sleep Late.” Using this “Post-a-Comment” means that I’m not usurping your private blog, right? I’m of an (ancient) generation that does not “understand” blogs. My granddaughter, on the other hand. . . .

I am from Canlaon City, a little city in the heart of the Negros Island, but I am working at Cebu City right now. I so much miss Canlaon, and of course our very own Kanlaon Volcano, so I did a little of tickling on google and then got stumbled on your blog. Your posts are fascinating to read, although I can’t seemingly relate to some, but the title of your blog amazed me the most.
I really miss waking up at home and then take a peek at my window. And I would then sit beside the window and blantly stare at the majestic volcano with some cold misty winds trying freezing me up. Then few minutes later, my Mom would already be screaming my name, looking for me (I am the last person to wake up every morning at the house). I love my childhood days. I just don’t know why I can’t remember all those crazy stuff I did when I was still young. I hate it when my elder sister would recall to me those happenings and then it would just irrated me more because I wouldn’t be able to recall a thing.
Anyways, I am already blabbering here. Nice Blog! I hope you could gimme a holler back! hehehehe

hazel said,

Hi, congratulations on your beautifully laid out blog…
So I was wondering if you knew any folk lore stories about mt. kanlaon? I visited over the summer and found the volcano and the whole of negros really, quite inspiring… I would like to read some more about it.

It’s wonderful that you love Negros, I hope you get a chance to return.

The only folk tales I know about Kanlaon are from HISTORY OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, a book which was given to me by my relatives (and I don’t know if it’s still in print). You can also look for blogs by/ about people living in Bacolod, of which I’m sure there are many . . .

Amanda Parker said,

Hi, I just really wanted to stop by and say hi. I am in Liza’s 110 class, at which you visted recently. I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming in. I really appreciated that such a wonderful writer would do something so great for the students. I rally loved your book Mayor of the Roses and most definitely am going to be reading more of ou collections. I also want to thank you for giving me something that I can get into. I thought my love for reading was gone, but now, at least for your books, I’ve found a passion!!
Thank you deeply,
Amanda Parker

[…] story collection The Mechanics of Falling capped the conversation fittingly: “I’d recommend Marianne Villanueva, whose most recent book of stories is The Mayor of the Roses. Some stories are set in the […]

M Dixon said,

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is having a fantiastic Filipino Film Festival with films that have never been seen in the US before. Here’s a link to the complete information: http://www.ybca.org/new-filipino-cinema

I’m Gielizza Marie Calzado, a senior advertising student from the College of Fine Arts and Design of the University Santo Tomas.
I’m in the process of making my final thesis. My topic is about “Exploring the Method of Collage of Printed Paper to Illustrate the poem, Some Women by Bunny Ty”

As part of my feasibility study, I would like to ask you about the poet, Bunny Ty. According to the publisher of the book I plan to re-illustrate, the poem was found in a collection. I presumed that it was taken from Going Home to a Landscape: Writings by Filipinas, a collection which you co-edited. It would be very beneficial for my book illustration project if you can connect me to Bunny Ty. If it is not possible, I would like to ask you some questions regarding literature and art.

Please let me know if you are willing. Your response will be greatly appreciated.

Confession: I am not an anthropologist. I wanted to be one, though. Instead, I became a writer. It’s like being an anthropologist, but the “digs” are entirely in my head. (I DO have a fascination with volcanoes. There’s a big one in my dad’s home province in the Philippines — still active)

Hello Marriane, how kind of you to find me at Wahine Wednesdays! I have a more active blog, basil-1.com, that I post to regularly. I am fascinated with your exploration in voice and look forward to reading your blog frequently. Thank you again for searching me out, Tiare

Tiare, I’ll link to your more active blog now. Do you know, I was in southern CA several times last year, and because of your pieces I kept wanting to make it to Newport Beach. I went once. But didn’t stay very long. It was a Friday. The traffic getting back to LA was — ugh.

I couldn’t remember how I found your blog, but I did, and am grateful for having found it.

Then there’s the story you wrote (The Hand) where Frederick Barthelme picked for Juked, which I read (and liked so much)… what an honor to have seen your blog!

And yes, I LOVE reading stories by Frederick (and Donald) Barthelme. Stumbled upon his collection, The Law of Averages, and it’s one of my favorites! Can’t get enough of it. Maybe it’s a phase, just as I had one with Salinger, but I’m hoping this one’s longer. And I was thinking why he picked your story, and it’s most likely because your writing is simple but nuanced. Makes me feel proud that he picked a story by a Pinoy, that’s all. 🙂

“Makes me feel proud that he picked a story by a Pinoy”: THANK YOU! YOU MADE MY DAY!!!

A few months ago, I was scanning my bookshelves, when I came across Frederick Barthelme’s novel NATURAL SELECTION. I stopped buying novels years ago, but I remember bringing this one with me to a residency in Mojacar, Spain, which was over a decade ago. What’s really strange and amazes me no end: When I read that book in Spain, I of course had NO idea that I’d be connected to Barthelme in a very personal way, 10 years in the future.

The other amazing thing about “The Hand” is, this was one of those stories that I never sent out, because I didn’t frankly know WHAT I was doing when I wrote it. I remember hearing about the Juked contest, and telling some friends about it. It was the TELLING to friends that actually prodded me to submit to the contest myself. And I submitted “The Hand” because I hadn’t really seriously considered it would have a chance, ANYWHERE. It was just too strange. So, submitting to Juked on a whim, paid off for me BIG time!

Blogs are tricky things. I only felt comfortable blogging after adding an extra layer of “persona” I could hide behind — hence, the birth of “Self”!!! Thank you, I’m glad you like my third person blog!

Thank you for visiting my blog (the post was WPC: Partners). Because you liked it, I found yours! I like your attitude about writing. I love writing too but have never published anything (except my blog) – but I have many interests, including music and travel! Your reason for using 3rd person is really fascinating, especially the drama queen part, which I tend to be (maybe I should try using 3rd person also)!

Karren said,

Dear Self, Are you going to AWP 2019 in Portland, OR? I see you picked up Bad Names for Women by Hilary Tham some time back and liked it enough to post one of her poems. I am the one who convinced you to take Hilary’s book home. We have a lot more to talk about. Yours in Poetry, Karren Alenier (more from DC than NY)

Hi, Karren, I was not planning on going this year. I LOVE Hilary Tham! But it’s expensive, so I will limit my going to AWP to every other year. Do you pass by San Francisco ever? Because if you do, we could meet up.